The foxes guarded April Sound

Published 4:49 pm, Saturday, February 16, 2013

To the editor:

Robert Coats was right on when he said how we the residents of April Sound were led down the prime rose path. We were told repeatedly to just be quiet and not make waves, let the negotiators take care of things.

What we did not realize is we put the fox in charge of the hen house, and the fox did what all good foxes do: They looked out for themselves. Few residences in April Sound realize that each board member of MUD 3 and MUD 4 are paid $500 per person per meeting.

I was going to run for a seat on MUD 3 board, so I spent 1-1/2 years attending the monthly meeting so I would know what was happening. This is when I learned the board was a paying position. I, like most everyone else, thought it was like the POA board and the civic association, a volunteer position. What a surprise when I saw one member get a $3,000 check for meetings attended that month. Nice little retirement income. This is public record and can be checked.

Then we have the letter the next day from Wayne Hickman saying what a wonderful job the negotiators did. One thing he failed to mention is his wife is on MUD 3 board and led the pack selling us down the river. All they wanted to do is keep the manager’s job and keep their positions on the boards. I would like The Courier to print the monthly amount paid to each board member for the last 24 or 36 months and let the residents see how well they were taken care of.

Conroe gladly gave away the streets; they are 40 years old. Conroe did not want that, plus the sewer and water lines are just about as old and outdated, and they did not want them. Conroe did not care if we kept the gated community; we the residents are paying for it; it cost them nothing.

Charlie Griffith

Montgomery

Gun contol laws weaken our protections

To the editor:

People who think the president’s proposal on banning weapons is a good thing need to think again. Taking away the people’s ability to protect and defend their families will only makes the criminals more brazen.

The NRA’s proposal for mental health reform is a great idea. After all, how many of the shooters we have heard about have turned out to be totally sane? As for where the funding would come from, how about stop wasting taxpayer money on promoting this ban and getting rid of some of the politicians’ “pet projects” that are of no relevant benefit to us.

I do not care about whether there is life on Mars. Let’s face it, to say that the nation’s mental health system is broken is an understatement. Here are some facts: 1. Washington, D.C., and Chicago have strict gun laws yet they have the highest killing rate in the U.S. 2. Alcohol-related deaths are 50 times higher than those killed by guns. 3. In 2011, for every one person killed by a rifle, 1.5 were killed by a club or hammer. 4. The homicide rate in 2011 was the lowest on record since 1963. 5. The U.S. ranks 26th in the world, according to the homicide gun rate per 100,000 people. The numbers are still too high but not as bad as people are being led to think.

If the media would only air/print each time a weapon, even an AR-15, saves one or more people, the truth of things could not be denied. A better mental health system, more in-depth background checks, educating people about firearms and proper training would go a long away in cutting crime and murder when a gun is involved. After all, the most vicious gun, even fully loaded, if set on a table is totally harmless until someone picks up the weapon and pulls the trigger.